Supporting Roles
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,” (Luke 1:76-77, ESV).
At the Oscars, they hand out an award for the best supporting actor or actress. It doesn’t honor the star but the performer who brings something crucial to the story and makes it work.
John was like that for Jesus. He was the supporting actor for Jesus who had the leading role.
And Zechariah, his father, knew it when John was a tiny baby and before Jesus was even born. This wise old man was well aware of what was coming:
“because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79, ESV).
Jesus was the light from heaven, light that would break through the darkness of a sinful world and bring peace and hope to all of us. God had made this promise. Now it was about to be fulfilled, and Daddy Zechariah knew that his little son had a part to play.
John would become the prophet of the Most High God, the one who called people to pay attention to what God was doing and to prepare their minds and hearts for Jesus, the Savior and Messiah. John wasn’t going to be the star. In fact, once Jesus was made known, John faded into the background, then died a horrible death.
But first, this tiny baby would become a man pointing others to Jesus.
You and I have that role today. We’re to prepare the way for people to come to Jesus the Light, to bring them news of salvation and peace. To be supporting players in God’s unfolding drama.
